A very interesting Etruscan itinerary

18 November 2012No Comment

Castellina in Chianti, located in the heart of the Chianti region, as the name suggests, is a nice but small town in Tuscany, very famous for its historical past during which the place was lived by the Etruscans.

Situated in a strategic position, halfway between Val d’Elsa, Val di Pesa and the Arbia valley, Castellina hosts numerous old monuments and historical finds, remembering not only the notable importance of the Etruscan civilisation, but also the medieval time, in which the ancient walls around the town were built. Nowadays, unfortunately, they can’t be seen anymore, since they are almost completely demolished, apart from a small section underground.

As far as it concerns the Etruscan culture, the old castle, once used as a fortification, has become a museum, hosting the Chianti Senese Archaeological Museum, where tourists can learn something more about this population, seeing some interesting exhibitions, letting you learn more about the past of the Italy, especially of the Tuscan region.

The itinerary of course continues into Greve in Chianti, where you can see the burial mounds and the ancient cemeteries. You can’t miss the so called Tumulo di Montecalvario, an Etruscan tomb dating back to the 8th century BC. Its name comes from the chapel located next to it, remembering the last station of the Way of the Cross.

The tomb has a diameter which measures more than 50 metres and its design is basically formed by four main central chambers and some small side cells facing the four cardinal points.

Another interesting tomb is the Necropoli del Poggino, near the town of Fonterutoli. In the archaeological zone there were found five tombs, four of which have chambers and one has a large chest, showing some grave goods inside them. Some of these materials can be seen in the atrium of the medieval stronghold.